Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-01-16

friend, call on Ringwood Cllnch.
s.Tbe same here, old man." said Raw
Inns, extending his hand as he appeared
from n hurried conference with the ola
woman at the woodshed, land trust 10
Zeenie to give you u hint eff there's any
thin undermined goin' OH. So long.
Half inclined TO resent this implied sng-
pestion of protection, Yet half pleased at the
idea OF q confidence with the handsome
Girl he had seen. Hale returned TO the
room. A whispered discussion among the
marty ceased on his entering, and an a"K-
ward silence followed, which Hale dld NOT
attempt to break as he quietly took MS
his seat again by the fire. He was presently
confronted by Stanner, who, with an affec-
tation of easy familiarity, crossed over 10
the hearth. q
THE old kernels id peppery and high
toned when he's got q little more than his
regular three fingers O corn mice, chr
81 must beg you to understand distinct
ly. Mr.. Stanner," said Hale, with a re-
turn of his habitual precision of state
ment, that | regard any sighting ailusion
to the getleman who has just left not only
as in exceedingly bad taste coming from
you, but very offensive to myself. Ii you
mean to imply that he was under the intu-
chce of liquor, it is my duty to undeceiNe
You; he was so perfectly IN possession vi
his faculties as to express not only MS own
but my opinion of your onduct. lou
must also admit that he was dlscrlnilnat-
ing enough to show his election to your
communicating it. / regret that clrcnm-
stances do not make it convenient ior me
to exercise that privilege; but II am
obliged to put up with your presence ih
this room. / strongly insist that 1t IS not
made uncomfortable with the addition oil
your conversation"
The effect of this deliberate and passion
less declaration was more discompoSinS
to the party than Clinch's fury. Utterly
unaccnstomed to the ideas and Ian
guage suddenly confronting them, they
were unable to determine whether II
was the real expression OF, the speaker
or whether it was n vague hadlnage or
a~ffectation to which any reply womb
involve them in ridicule. In a country
terrorized by practical joking they did not
doubt but that this was q new form oil
hoaxing calculated to provoke some re-
sponse that would constitute them rs
victims. The immediate effect upon them
was that complete silence i'll regard 10 HIM
self that Hale desired. They drew to-
pether again and cOnversed in whispers,
while Hale, with his eyes fixed on the fire,
gave himself up to somewhat late and use
less reflection.
He could scarcely realize his pc ition.
For however he might look at it, within a
space of twelve hours he had not only
changed some of his most cherished opin-
ions. but he had acted in accordance with
that change in q way that made 1t seem al
most impossible for him ever to recant.
In the interests of law and order he had
engaged in an unlawful aud disorderly
pursuit of criminals, and had actually
| come in conflict, not with the criminals, but
with the only party apparently authorized
to pursue them. More than that, lie was
finding himself committed to a certain
sympathy with the criminals. Twenty
f5hl hours ago, if any one had told HIM
that he would have cOndoned M illegal
act for its abstract justice, or assisted to
commit an illegal for the same purpose, he
would nave felt himself insulted. That
he knew he would not now feel iii insult
perplexed him still more. In these cir
cumstances the fact that he was separated
from his family, and rs it were from all
his past life and traditions by u chance
accident, did not disturb him greatly; in
deed, he was for the first time n little
doubtful of their probable criticism on his
inconsistency, and was by no means In a
hurry to subject himself to it.
Lifting his eyes, he was suddenly aware
that the door leading to the kitchen was
slowly opening. He had thought he heard
it creak once or twice during his deliberate
reply to Stanner. 1t was evidently NOV
ing now so as to attract his attention, with
out disturbing the Others. 1t presently
opened sufficiently wide to show the face
of Xeenie, who, with a gesture of caution
toward his companions, beckoned INN tn
ioin her. He rose carelessly rs if going
out, and, putting on his hat, entered the
kitchen US the retreating figure of the
young girl glided lightly TOWARD the
stables. She assembled a few open steps aS
if TO a hay lott, but stopped before Il low
door. Pushing it open, she preceded HIM
into a small ROOM, apparently under the
roof, which scarcely allowed her to stand
upright. BY the light OF a stable lantern
hanging from IA beam he saw that, though
poorly FURNISHED, it bore some evidence
of feminine taste and habitatiOn. Motion
ing to the only chair, she seated herself on
the edge of the bed, with her hands clasp
ing her knees in her familiar attitude. Her
face bore traces of recent agitation, and
her ewes were shining with tears. by the
closer light of the lantern he was surprised
TO find it was from laughter.
81 reckoned you'd he right lonely down
there with that Stanner crowd, par
tickerly after that little speech o. yOur'n,
80 | SEE to NAV I'd get you up yer for a
spell. Nav and I heerd you exhort 'em,
Nav allowed yOu woZ talkin' n furrir
tongue all along, but I-Sakes alive!-l
he'd to hump myself to keep from Dustin
into a yell when yer jist drawed them
Webster unabridged sentences on EN-"
She stopped and rocked backward and for.
ward with Il laugh that, subdued by the
proximity of the roof and the fear Of being
overheard, was by no means unmuslcal.
cpl tell yer whot got me, though! That
part commencing. 'Su3kamstances oVer
which I've no c0ntroul-'"
ooh, come! / didn't say that inter
rupted Hale, laughing.
'''Dont make it convenient for me ex-
ercise the privilege of kickin' yer out to
that extent" she continued; but it
cannot dispense with your room, the least
| can say is that's a id sight better than
your company'-or suthin' like that! And
then the way you minded your stops and
let your voice rise and fall jest ez easy el
you wos a First Reader in large type.
Why, the kernel wasn't nowhere. His
cussin' didn't come within a mile O yourn.
That Stanner jist turned yaller."
"I'm afraid you are laughing at me-
said Hale, not knowing whether TO be
pleased or vexed ut the girls amusement,
~ reckon I'm the only one that dare do
it, then" said the girl, simply. THE
kernel SEE the way you turned round after
he'd done his %cussin', and said yer believed
you'd stay and take the responsibility Of
the whole thing-and did in that kan,
soft. did-any- peak-to-me-style-w